jackson



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. N. JACKSON. Fruit Picker.

No. 240,422. Patente dApl il 19,1881.

N. PETERSv PHDTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASNtNGTON. v.0.

(ModeL) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

I.'N. JACKSON. Fruit Picker.

No. 240,422. Patent-ed April 19,1881.

viii-emf. Irwemzm dd/ Iwaac Jfl-fawmwa I M0123 261 M :9 W 05. -W g I Asa;

N. PETERS. PHQTO-UTHOGRAPHFJH. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC N. JACKSON, OF MORGANTOWN, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. M. FORGY, OF SAME PLACE.

FRUIT-PICKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,422, dated April 19, 1881.

Application filed December 30, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISAAC N. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morgantown, in the county of Butler and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Pickers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fruit-picker in which a pair of expansible springjaws are provided for the purpose of plucking fruit from the trees.

The present invention consists, essentially, in a fruit-picker composed of two jaws hinged or pivoted at theirlower adjacent corners to a 1 supporting frame or band, and having their lower outer edges connected by a transverse spring arranged below the supporting frame or band for normally retaining said jawsin an open position, the lower outer edges of said jaws being also connected by rods with a sliding sleeve which is connected with a pivoted lever operated by a cord or chain for moving the slide upward to close the jaws, all of which will be fully hereinafter described.

2 5 In the drawings, Figpre l is a side elevation of a fruit-picker constructed in accordance with my invention, the jaws being represented as open. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view with the jaws in a closed position. Fig. 3 is 0 a side elevation of the device with its jaws closed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the picker with the jaws closed, this view being taken from one of the sides, which shows but one of the jaws.

The letters A A indicate the hinged jaws, which are composed of skeleton scoop-shaped frames hinged at their lower corners to an annular band, B, of the jaw-supporting frame by means of rods 0 O, passing through the jaws and through the frame. This frame is closed by a plate, D, so that when the jaws are shut a receptacle will be provided for the fruit plucked from the tree, and this plate or bottom of such receptacle is, by preference,

5 slotted, as at D, so as to permit leaves or twigs to fall out. The frame to which the jaws are hinged is "supported by rods E E, which branch outwardly from a sleeve or ferrule, F, secured upon one end of a pole or handle, F,

the lower portions of these rods being secured to the said ferrule by any suitable means.

The sleeve G, which is arranged to slide over the ferrule F, is made rectangular in cross-section, and adapted to receive the lower portions of the rods in its corners, whereby any twisting or rotary movement of the sleeve will be prevented. This movable sleeve connects with the hinged jaws by means of the hinged connecting-rods H, so that whenthe sleeve is moved toward the jaws the latter will be forced together. The mechanism for thus moving the sleeve and closing the jaws consists of a hinged lever, I, fulcrumed upon a cross-bar, K, secured to two of the rods E, and linked at one end to a rod, L, which connects with the movable sleeve. A cord or chain, M, is fastened to the outer end of this hinged lever, and is carried down along the handle through one or more guide-eyes, N, to within convenient reach of the operator.

The spring 0, employed for opening the hinged jaws so soon as the cord is released or allowed to slacken up, is arranged below the frame to which the jaws are hinged, and is connected at its ends with short arms, which project downwardly from the jaws.

In gathering fruit the operator will grasp the picker by its handle and raise it so as to bring the inner faces of the jaws at the sides of the fruit to be plucked. By now drawing upon the cord the jaws will be brought together so as to inclose the fruit by them, after which a slight pull will detach the fruit from the limb. To open the jaws the operator will release the cord, when, by the action of the spring, the jaws will be opened. Each jaw consists of a strong light skeleton-frame composed of bent rods or stout wires secured to a frame, which is preferably of metal.

Heretofore a fruit-picker has been oonstruct- 9 ed of two hinged jaws connected with a sleeve arranged to slide on the handle, said sleeve being acted upon by a spring for normally holding thejaws open; but such does not constitute my invention.

A fruit-picker has also been constructed of a stationary frame attached to a handle or pole and provided with an immovable jaw, the said frame serving as a bearing for a pivoted jaw, which is extended horizontally betoo yond its pivotal point to form a lever by which the movable jaw is caused to approach the fixed jaw, said lever being connected with the frame of the fixed jaw by a coiled spring, so that when the lever is drawn down to move the pivoted jaw toward the fixed jaw the spring will act to draw the lever up, and so as to open the pivoted jaw; but such construction does not constitute my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. The combination, in afruit-pioker, of two jaws hinged to a supporting -frame, and a spring connecting the outer lower edges of said jaws, a series of rods connecting the said frame with aferrule adapted to be fitted upon the end of a pole or handle, a sleeve arranged to slide upon the ferrule and connected with the jaws by hinged connecting-rods, and a lever, I, fulcrumed at or near its center upon a cross-bar, K, and having one end connected with the rod L of the sliding sleeve and its other end to a cord or chain, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the skeleton-jaws A A, hinged to a supporting annular band, B,- and having their lower outer edges connected 2 5 by a spring arranged below said band, of the plate D, secured in said frame, the rods E, connecting said frame with a ferrule, F, upon the handle, the movable sleeve G, connecting with the hinged jaws by rods H, the hinged lever I, connecting with the movable sleeve by a rod, L, and a cord, M, fastened to the outer end of said lever, said elements being constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described. 3 5

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC 1v. JACKSON. 1,. s.]

Witnesses:

M. L. WARD, J. T. Rivas; 

